Indian-American author Arnab Ray has publicly questioned the openness of Indian academic institutions, specifically the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), to returning talent. His comments come in direct response to Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu's appeal for non-resident Indians to come back to their home country and contribute to its growth.
Ray's Experience with Indian Academia
Ray, who holds a PhD in Computer Science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, detailed his frustrating attempts to secure a teaching position in India. He aimed to teach cybersecurity as a crucial risk management discipline for future business leaders, a field where he has extensive professional experience with a major global medtech company and has authored books.
Despite his qualifications, Ray recounted being advised by IIM professors to acquire another PhD, this time in Management Information Systems (MIS), to be considered suitable for a teaching role. He described this as a dismissive response to his efforts to apply his expertise for India's benefit.
Critique of Institutional Practices
Beyond his personal rejection, Ray suggested his experience points to deeper systemic issues within Indian academic hiring. He observed a preference for hiring internal candidates or their own former students, a practice he noted is often frowned upon internationally. Ray further described encountering a "babu culture" characterized by condescension or passive dismissal towards external applicants, even when he had the advantage of his father having been a professor at the same institution.
His attempts to engage with private management institutes also met with discouraging results, including a belated interview invitation for which travel from Chicago would only be compensated with a second-class train fare.
Call for Structural Reform
Ray concluded that while appeals for global talent to return sound promising on social media, genuine large-scale repatriation requires fundamental structural reforms within Indian institutions. He emphasized that without changes to outdated bureaucratic cultures, many individuals eager to contribute will find themselves blocked and demotivated.
Sridhar Vembu's original 'Open letter to Indians in America' urged professionals to consider returning, asserting that India's global standing is increasingly tied to its technological advancements. "Bharat Mata needs your talent," Vembu had stated.
About Arnab Ray
Arnab Ray is the author of six books, including the horror classic The Mine and Sultan of Delhi. Two of his works have been adapted into web series for OTT platforms: Sultan of Delhi (JioHotstar) and Mahabharata Murders (Hoichoi).